Western Cape education MEC David Maynier has said the province will press ahead with its legal challenge in the dismissal of Heathfield high school principal Wesley Neumann.
The department was on Thursday granted leave to appeal a labour court ruling that overturned Neumann’s dismissal.
During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Neumann refused to reopen the school prompting his dismissal.
Pending an outcome of the appeal the order to reinstate Neumann now remains suspended.
Maynier says the court made multiple legal and factual errors when reviewing an arbitration award by the education labour relations council.
“We will remain focused on the best interests of the learners of Heathfield high school. The school is flourishing and has produced a matric pass rate of 89.9% – the school’s highest in 15 years,” said Maynier.
Special action committee on education spokesperson Neil Dublin said the case has already costed taxpayers more than six-million rand…
“The WCED has a track record of acting and litigating vexaciously when employers challenge their bureaucratic approach pertain to employment relations in the western cape.”
The committee said while it respects the court process it’s disappointed Neumann won’t be returning to the school any time soon.
Carlo Petersen
www.ewn.co.za